HIV Viral Load
Reviewed
This test measures the amount of HIV genetic material (RNA) in your blood. It is used to guide treatment decisions, monitor how well HIV medicines are working, and in certain cases to diagnose HIV infection. The test is a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), often called a PCR test. For monitoring, the goal is to achieve an undetectable viral load, which indicates the virus is controlled. For diagnosis, any detectable HIV RNA indicates an infection. Talk to your healthcare provider about the meaning of your results.
Preparation and collection
You do not need any special preparations for this test. If you are being tested for HIV diagnosis, consider talking with a counselor before or after the test.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- An undetectable viral load does not mean you are cured; you must continue taking your medicines as prescribed.
- A negative diagnostic result means you are probably not infected with HIV, but follow-up testing may be needed after a high-risk exposure.
- HIV viral load tests are expensive and are typically used after a positive screening test, unless you have a very high risk of infection.
- As with any lab test, there is a small risk of false-positive or false-negative results. Your healthcare provider will interpret your results in context.
- For diagnostic testing, counseling before and after the test is recommended to help you understand the results and your treatment options.
What to do next
Your healthcare provider will review your results and determine the next steps based on your specific situation. For monitoring, regular viral load tests every three to six months are typical. For a new diagnosis, additional tests such as a CD4 count may be ordered.